Ironwood ' Golden Bell Tower ' Parrotia

Parrotia persica ‘Golden Bell Tower’ — Persian Ironwood

Most people notice flowers first in a garden. Ironwood earns attention another way — by foliage, structure, and autumn spectacle. ‘Golden Bell Tower’ is an upright, narrow selection of Persian Ironwood chosen specifically for smaller properties where a full-spreading shade tree would be too much of a good thing.

In spring, fresh leaves emerge soft green edged in bronze. Summer brings a dense, tidy canopy that casts light shade without heaviness. But the real performance arrives in autumn: gold, orange, scarlet, and burgundy often appearing on the same tree at the same time. Few trees match it for fall color reliability in warm climates.

Winter does not end the show. As the tree matures, the bark exfoliates into a patchwork of gray, tan, and olive — subtle but handsome, especially against low winter light.

Despite its refined appearance, Persian Ironwood is unusually tough. It tolerates heat, urban soils, humidity, and short dry spells once established. Deer typically leave it alone, insects rarely trouble it, and it asks very little pruning. In other words, it behaves like a tree used to surviving without gardeners.

Mature Size
20–30 ft. tall
10–15 ft. wide (upright, columnar habit)

Growth Rate
Moderate

Light Requirements
Full sun to light shade
Best fall color develops in good sun

Soil
Adaptable — performs in loam, sandy soils, and even heavier soils if drainage is reasonable
Prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5–7.0)

Watering
Regular watering during establishment
Once rooted, moderately drought tolerant

Cold Hardiness
USDA Zones 5–8 (also performs well in much of the Upper South)

Landscape Uses

• Small shade tree for yards and streetscapes

• Vertical accent near drives or property lines

• Lawn specimen tree

• Patio shade without overwhelming space

Prune only to remove crossing or damaged branches while young. Its natural shape is part of its value — upright, clean, and architectural.

If a Japanese maple is a fine painting, Persian Ironwood is a well-built piece of furniture: durable, graceful, and still handsome decades later.

DISCLAIMER - WE ADVISE THAT THE BEST TIME TO SHIP IS FROM OCTOBER TO MAY. SHIPPING OUTSIDE OF THAT TIME PERIOD CAN BE EXTREMELY STRESSFUL TO ANY LIVING PLANT. ON MOST OCCASIONS, PLANTS WILL SURVIVE THAT STRESS AND GO ON TO THRIVE. HOWEVER, OCCASIONALLY SOME WILL PERISH.  WE DO NOT GUARANTEE TREES THAT WE DON’T PLANT, SO ONLINE SALES ARE AS IS. WE DO NOT SHIP TREES IN CONTAINERS/POTS AS TO AVOID EXCESSIVE SHIPPING CHARGES. WE SECURE TREE ROOTS IN LARGE PLASTIC BAGS PACKED WITH WET MEDIUM. IF YOU WISH TO SPECIFY A SHIP DATE, PLEASE INCLUDE A NOTE WITH YOUR ORDER. OTHER WISE IT WILL SHIP AS SOON AS WERE ABLE. WE DO NOT ACCEPT CANCELLATIONS ONCE AN ORDER IS PLACED. PLEASE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ORDERING. SHIPPING TO ALASKA AND HAWAII IS EXTRA. OUR SHIPPING TIMEFRAME IS AN ESTIMATE NOT A GUARANTEE AS WE ARE AFFECTED BY WEATHER EVENTS, STAFFING ETC. Ironwood' Golden Bell Tower ' tree ready for shipment. These are gorgeous landscape trees and one of the most sought after cultivars of the Ironwood species. These are 4' trees. These are bullet proof trees with no known diseases or pests. Another characteristic is the fire yellow to apricot coloring the tree shows in fall hence the name. The tree grows more upright with columnar like shape. The bark also can have a puzzled like look to it that gives it more eye appeal. Grows in zones 5-8 and maxing out at 20-30' making it a great screening tree for certain areas.  Please reach out with any questions. Thanks for looking